detective Archives

AppWizard

August 11, 2025

Nancy Drew Series Still #1 in PC Games

Nancy Drew debuted in 1930 during the Great Depression, providing an escape for families and inspiring readers with her ingenuity and bravery. She transitioned into video games in the late 1990s, with HeR Interactive launching over 30 titles starting in 1998, allowing players to embody her character without seeing her physical form. However, after 2015, the franchise faced challenges, including layoffs and a decline in game quality, as the company shifted focus to attract younger mobile audiences. Despite these changes, the games are now appealing to a broader audience, including adults. Nancy Drew symbolizes the potential for female protagonists to inspire through intelligence and determination rather than violence.

AppWizard

August 9, 2025

The follow-up to one of the decade’s best detective games will have you selling cursed antiques to Victorian weirdos next month

Strange Antiquities, the sequel to 2022's Strange Horticulture, is set to launch on September 17. The game allows players to sell eldritch antiques to various townsfolk in a curiosity shop located in the Lake District. The developer, Bad Viking, aims to enhance the experience by encouraging players to feel like investigators of the occult, focusing on exploration and deduction. The success of Strange Horticulture has led to similar games, such as Do No Harm, which features a doctor treating a town with unusual ailments and incorporates Lovecraftian themes.

AppWizard

August 9, 2025

Amazon Prime Gaming’s 12 ‘free’ games for August include Civilization 3

Amazon Prime Gaming is offering free games for August 2025, including: - Available Now: - Sid Meier’s Civilization 3 Complete (GOG) - Thief: Definitive Edition (GOG) - The Academy: The First Riddle (Amazon Games App) - August 14: - Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective (Amazon Games App) - Silver Box Classics (GOG) - August 28: - Heroes of Loot 2 (GOG) - Fantasy Empires (GOG) - City Legends: The Ghost of Misty Hill Collector’s Edition (Legacy Games) Players can also access July's offerings, which include: - Marvel’s Midnight Suns - Amnesia: The Dark Descent - Saints Row IV: Re-Elected - Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II

AppWizard

August 6, 2025

‘Wednesday’ bestie Emma Myers talks wolfing out, ‘Minecraft’ memes

Emma Myers began her acting career in 2010 on "The Glades," where she played the daughter of a NASA mission specialist by simply smiling for the camera in family photos. She gained prominence as Enid in Netflix's "Wednesday," which debuted three years ago, and has since taken on various roles, including the lead in "A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder" and as Natalie in "A Minecraft Movie." Myers has a role in the upcoming animated feature "Angry Birds 3," set for release in 2027. In the second season of "Wednesday," Enid is involved in a love triangle and faces a new rival, Agnes. Myers has experienced personal growth and gained confidence over the past three years. She has input in Enid's wardrobe and character design, including a new haircut for Season 2. Myers finds the balance of Enid's werewolf transformations important and has received praise for her British accent in "A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder." She recently won a Kids' Choice Award for her performance in "A Minecraft Movie."

AppWizard

August 1, 2025

Valve just announced every Steam sale date from now until Summer 2026 — here’s exactly when you can save big bucks on the best PC games

Valve's Steam platform has 132 million monthly active users. The upcoming sales schedule includes: - Autumn Sale: November 10 – November 17, 2025 - Sports Fest: December 8 – December 15, 2025 - Steam Winter Sale: December 18 – January 5, 2026 - Detective Fest: January 12 - January 19, 2026 - Board Game Fest: January 26 - February 2, 2026 - Typing Fest: February 5 - February 9, 2026 (Spotlight Fest) - PvP Fest: February 9 - February 16, 2026 - Horse Fest: February 19 - February 23, 2026 (Spotlight Fest) - Steam Next Fest - February 2026 Edition: February 23 - March 2, 2026 - Tower Defense Fest: March 9 - March 16, 2026 - Steam Spring Sale 2026: March 19 - March 26, 2026 - House & Home Fest: March 30 - April 6, 2026 - Hidden Object Fest: April 9 - April 13, 2026 (Spotlight Fest) - Medieval Fest: April 20 - April 27, 2026 - Deckbuilders Fest: May 4 - May 11, 2026 - Ocean Fest: May 18 - May 25, 2026 Details for additional sales in the latter half of 2026 will be shared later.

AppWizard

July 28, 2025

This week in PC games: Hobbits, gigahorses, internet fixers, ninjas, hellships, junkbots and window cleaners

Graham is departing from RPS, marking a significant transition for the publication. New PC gaming releases this week include: - Fumes: A Mad Max-inspired open-world vehicular combat game. - Primal Planet: A side-scrolling metroidvania adventure featuring primordial humans. - Grounded 2: A sequel where tiny protagonists build homes and engage in turf wars. - Tales of the Shire: A game where players craft homes and impress neighbors with cooking. - Day Of The Shell: A turn-based tactical game set in a flooded world. - Sky The Scraper: A quirky window-cleaning simulator with life simulation elements. - Morgan: Metal Detective: A treasure-hunting game on a Cornish island. - Gold Gold Adventure Gold: A colony-building game with dungeon-diving heroes. - Tower Networking Inc: A management simulation for internet services in a tower. - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound: A pixel-art reinterpretation of the classic series. - Mashina: A mining narrative set in a junkyard. - Hell Galaxy: An open-world space shooter with body horror elements. - Heartworm: A survival horror homage to 90's classics. - Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz: A curious addition. - Ikarus Parkour: A 3D tower-climbing game in vibrant environments. The RPS team is engaged in various personal projects, including interviews and other pursuits.

AppWizard

July 17, 2025

Persona 4 Remake will use Denuvo on PC

SEGA and Atlus have announced the Steam store page for the remake of the RPG, Persona 4 Revival, which will include Denuvo anti-piracy technology for the PC version. The game features a narrative about mysterious murders in Inaba, blending detective work with self-discovery and personal relationships. It includes improved graphics, sound, and gameplay mechanics, allowing players to attend Yasogami High School, engage in various activities, and take on part-time jobs. Combat utilizes a turn-based system against Shadows, focusing on exploiting enemy weaknesses and using unique Personas. An official release date and PC system requirements have not yet been announced.

AppWizard

July 15, 2025

Ghost Town Is Out Soon For PC VR – Quest 3 Graphics Comparison

Ghost Town, developed by Fireproof Games, is set to launch for PC VR and Quest 3. Players take on the role of Edith Penrose, investigating her brother's disappearance in a ghost-hunting detective agency in London. The game features intricate environmental and mechanical puzzles, and has received positive reviews on Quest. The graphics are detailed on both platforms, with the Quest 3 version having slightly less polished lighting and environmental effects compared to the PC version. Textures are high quality on both systems, but the PC version has enhanced sharpness and more objects rendered in scenes. Performance on Quest 3 is generally outstanding with minimal lag, and the game provides an immersive experience on both platforms. The upcoming Steam release will enhance fidelity for PC VR players.

Tech Optimizer

July 14, 2025

The performance engineer: a detective licensed to kill… bottlenecks

A SQL query initially took fifteen hours to process, but after performance engineering adjustments by Vadim Laktushin, it was reduced to two minutes. Performance engineers (PEs) work to enhance IT system efficiency by identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks in application code, database management systems, configurations, and hardware. Vadim transitioned from a developer to a performance specialist at Postgres Professional after exploring benchmarks and system tuning. Performance issues often require complex solutions rather than straightforward fixes. For example, a client migrating from Oracle to PostgreSQL faced delays due to the Write-Ahead Log (WAL), which became a bottleneck during heavy write operations. PEs adhere to principles such as proactive analysis, reliance on data, and caution against quick fixes. Essential skills for PEs include programming, Linux expertise, understanding algorithms, statistical thinking, and effective communication. The future of performance engineering may involve specialization, and while AI can assist, it cannot replace human expertise in optimization tasks.

AppWizard

July 11, 2025

A Minecraft Movie and Pokémon: Detective Pikachu – 2 Films Blu-ray (Netherlands)

Warner Bros. is set to release "A Minecraft Movie" and "Pokémon: Detective Pikachu" between 2019 and 2025, with "A Minecraft Movie" scheduled for release on August 6, 2025. The film has a runtime of 205 minutes and is rated NL-9. The Blu-ray edition features a video codec of MPEG-4 AVC, a resolution of 1080p, and aspect ratios of 2.40:1 and 1.78:1, with original aspect ratios of 1.85:1 and 2.39:1. Audio options include Dolby Digital 5.1 in French, English, Dutch, and Flemish, as well as Dolby TrueHD 7.1 in French and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 in English. Subtitles are available in Dutch, English SDH, and French. The two-disc Blu-ray set is compatible with Region B. The film is directed by Jared Hess and Rob Letterman, featuring a cast that includes Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, and Sebastian Hansen, with a screenplay by multiple writers. There are currently no related news posts or forum discussions for the films.